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Critical Acclaim

WS98

Wine Spectator - "Shows stunning depth and drive, with a deep well of blackberry and plum sauce and a lush structure. Superlong, with spice and anise echoing on. A tremendous young wine in the making.
Barrel Sample: 95-98 Points
"

International Wine Cellar - "Good bright red-ruby. Wild, old-school aromas of spicecake, loam, game and caramel, with a floral element emerging with air. Then sweeter in the mouth, with dark raspberry and beefsteak tomato merlot notes complicated by blueberry and minerals from the cabernet franc component. Finishes fine-grained, suave and dry, with very good spine. This one will need patience. 92(+?) points "

RP91

The Wine Advocate - "Chocolaty, cedary and Christmas fruitcake notes along with some oak, damp earth and forest floor are present in this full-bodied, masculine style of Pomerol, which has a dense ruby/purple color and is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The wine has a nice chewiness to it and is powerful and muscular, but not quite as silky or complex as some of the other top wines of this appellation. Forget it for 5-7 years and drink it over the following 25.Rating: 91+"

Chateau Certan de May Winery

Chateau Certan de May, fully named Chateau Certan de May de Certan, is located on the Right Bank of the Bordeaux wine region, in the commune of Pomerol in the department Gironde. As all wine produced
in this appellation, Chateau Certan de May is unclassified but the estate is long estimated among the great growths of the region. It is located in the east of the appellation, on the Pomerol plateau between Vieux-
Château-Certan and Pétrus, and directly opposite Le Pin. The estate's name has origins from the founding family, presumably of Scottish origin sometimes documented as Demay, who lived in France since the Middle Ages and were installed in Pomerol at the end of the 16th century. Archives state the family by Royal ordinance became masters of the fief of Certan, or Sertan, making this the oldest vignoble of the district, an area that also encompassed present day Vieux Chateau Certan and Chateau Certan-Giraud. The French Revolution led to the division of the domain, leaving the de May family with a small parcel of the original property, then called Petit-Certan. After the death of the last de May in 1925 the estate came to the Barreau-Badar family, the present day
owners. It is currently managed by Jean-Luc Barreau.
View all Chateau Certan de May Wines

About Pomerol

It's a tiny region, and it has no classification system. But the wines produced from Pomerol can be sensuous and life-changing. Here lies Chateau Pétrus, one of the most expensive and sought-after wines of the world – many vintages commanding prices higher than the first-growth chateaux of the Médoc. The area is all vines, with no real town center, just roads connecting the lands and small, farmhouse style chateaux.

Notable Facts

Soils in the area are primarily gravel based, intermittent with a clay subsoil, which is a factor in the rich flavors of the wines. Like its right bank neighbors, Pomerol sticks mainly to Merlot, with at least 2/3 of the land under vine growing the variety. Cabernet Franc makes up most of the remainder, with some Cabernet Sauvignon and a spot or two of Malbec. Vines are old and yields are extremely low – add those factors to the soil, and it's a recipe for an elegant, distinctive wine, with typical descriptors of intense aromas, ripe fruits and supple tannins. Quality can be vintage-dependent - in a good vintage, expect melt-in-your-mouth wine.

About France - Other regions

When it comes to wine, France is a classic. Classic blends, grapes and styles began in the country and they still remain. Think about it - people ask for a Burgundian style Pinot Noir, they refer to wines as Bordeaux or Rhone blends - Champagne even had to pass a law to stop international wineries from putting their region on the label of all sparkling wine.

The top regions of France are: Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Languedoc-Roussillon, Loire, Rhone. And these regions are so diverse! It makes sense that wine regions throughout the world try to emulate their style. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and
Syrah are no longer French varieties, but international varieties. They may not be the leader of cutting edge technology or value-priced wines, but there is no doubt that they are still producing wines of great quality and diversity.

Constance and Stéphane Droulers, driven by the desire to create a prestige wine capable of rivalling with the finest of
Bordeaux wines, launched Haut Carles in 1994. It is the quintessential wine of the Domaine de Carles. Elaborated and matured ...

Constance and Stephane Droulers, driven by the desire to create a prestige wine capable of rivalling with the finest of
Bordeaux wines, launched Haut Carles in 1994. It is the quintessential wine of the Domaine de Carles. Elaborated and matured ...

Alcohol By Volume Guide

Most wine ranges from 10-16% alcohol by volume. Some varietals tend to have higher (for example Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon) or lower alcohol levels (Pinot Noir and many white varietals), but there is always some variation from producer to producer. Some wine falls outside of this range, for instance Port weighs in closer to 20%, while Muscat and Riesling are usually a bit below 10%.

Wine Style Guide

Light & Fruity

Red wines that are more fruit-forward and lighter in tannin and body.

Smooth & Supple

Medium bodied reds that go down easy, with smooth tannins and supple fruit.